Trap for catching and killing of small animals

ABSTRACT

A trap for trapping and killing small animals such as rats and mice, is described. The trap comprises a stand, a pivoting clamp, journalled in the stand around a first axis. The clamp may be strained against the action of a spring which may be released by a releasing mechanism from a first, loaded position, when an animal acts upon the releasing mechanism. When released, the clamp immediately swings, acted upon by the spring, to a second position, where it hits and kills the animal. The clamp, extending from the first axis is provided with a first arm and a second arm. A first fastening point of the spring is provided at an end that is turned from the first axis of the first arm. The second fastening point of the spring is provided at the stand. The force line between the two fastening points of the spring runs through or in the vicinity of the first axis such that the spring exerts little or no or torque in the direction towards the second position of the clamp. The trap is primarily characterized in that the releasing mechanism is journalled around the second axis in the stand, forming a first arm portion designed like a cap above a vessel for bait. A second arm portion acts upon the first arm of the clamp when the cap is lifted by the animal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a trap for trapping and killing ofsmall animals such as rats, mice, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mouse, rat, and other types of small animal traps are well known in theart. Such traps may, for instance, comprise a stand in the form of aplate, at which a clamp may be stretched against the force of a spiralspring, arranged around its turning axis to a loaded position, in whicha lock pin keeps the clamp means at the plate. The free end of the lockpin is inserted in the loop of a locking means in the form of a movableplate, at which the bait is fixed (e.g., in the form of a piece ofcheese).

Traps of this type have some limitations and drawbacks. It is relativelytroublesome and hazardous to load such traps, and positively two handsare required. Often, the trap hits the fingers of the user while theuser tries to set or move the trap. Furthermore, the animal can oftenremove the bait by careful action without causing the trap to act.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of the present invention to provide a trap which may behandled safely without triggering an catching a user's hand.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a trap whichmay be loaded with one hand.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a trap whichallows utilization of any type of bait, even a liquid bait.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a trap whichdoes not allow the bait to be removed without triggering the trap.

According to the invention such a trap is characterized primarily inthat the releasing mechanism is journalled around a second axis in thestand, forming a first arm portion designed like a cap above a vesselfor bait, and a second arm portion acting upon the first arm of theclamp when the cap is lifted by the animal.

The present invention comprises a stand and a pivoting clamp, journalledaround a first axis. The clamp may be strained against the action of aspring, and may be released by a releasing mechanism from a loadedposition when an animal acts upon the releasing mechanism. When thereleasing mechanism is activated, the clamp substantially immediatelyswings, acted upon by the spring, to a second position, where it hitsand kills the animal.

The clamp, extending from the first axis, is provided with a first and asecond arm. A first fastening point of the spring is provided at one endof the first arm. The second fastening point of the spring runs throughor in the vicinity of the first axis, such that the spring exertssubstantially no torque in the direction towards the second position ofthe clamp when the clamp is in its first position.

Within the scope of the invention, several embodiments are conceivable.In one suitable embodiment, the second arm portion of the releasingmechanism is provided with a lock which locks the first arm of the clampwhen the arm is in its first position. The lock releases the first armof the clamp when the cap is lifted by the animal.

In one suitable embodiment of the trap according to the presentinvention, there is provided a stop device for preventing the clamp frombeing turned to let the first arm of the clamp take a position in whichthe second arm portion of the releasing mechanism cannot act upon thefirst arm of the clamp.

In one further suitable embodiment, there is provided a guide forguiding small animals to the bait and preventing larger animals fromacting upon the releasing mechanism.

It is advantageous to design the stand with a portion like a platform,extending backwards from the vessel. The object is that the animal willstand with the front legs on the platform when it is in a position to behit by the clamp.

Advantageously, the cap and the container are designed in such a waythat the bait may be seen and smelled by the animal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in the following with one example ofembodiment, which is not limiting, reference being made to the enclosed,schematic figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a trap according to thepresent invention, partly in section.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a trap accordingto the present invention, partly in section.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a trap according to the present invention, witha guide in section.

FIG. 4A is a side view of the same trap, with an alternative guide.

FIG. 4B is a view of a parting wall for the guide in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a trap according to the present invention,partly in section.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a trap according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view in the direction towards the container of the trap.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of cap with container.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a shell for including in the trap.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a shellfor the trap of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the trap of the present invention illustratingthe shell installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, a planar stand is denoted by 1. A clamp isjournalled around a transverse, horizontal first axis 5. The clampcomprises a first arm 2 and a second arm 3, both extending from saidfirst axis 5, forming, in the trap shown, approximately a mutual rightangle. In the Figures, the clamp is illustrated in a first, loadedposition, against the tensile force of a coil spring 4. Coil spring 4 isfastened at one end to outer part 8 of first arm 2 and at the other endrear part 9 of stand 1. FIG. 5 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1,illustrating the connection of coil spring 4.

Second arm 3 rests against stop device 13, and the force line of coilspring 4 runs a little, but not very much, above first axis 5. Thereby,coil spring 4 does not exert any significant turning moment on the clampin a direction towards the animal when the clamp is in the firstposition. Thus, unlike prior art spring mousetraps, the clamp in thepresent invention provides very little force when in the set position asillustrated in FIG. 1. As the clamp rotates toward a second position (asindicated by the arrow in FIG. 1), the force line of coil spring 4 movesfurther away from fist axis 5, generating an increased force on secondarm 3 until the clamp can hit the animal, killing it.

Container 12 is provided, along with covering cap 6, journalled around asecond horizontal axis 7. Cap 6 is connected to second arm portion 10,which extends from second axis 3 in such a way that when cap 6 islocked, second arm portion 10 is above and in contact with first arm 2of the clamp. Cap 6 is designed to be easily moved by a small animal.Recesses in cap 6 and container 12 are directed toward the animalentrance as may be seen in FIG. 7. The recesses in cap 6 and container12 may allow the animal to view and smell bait placed within container12.

If an animal lifts cap 6, (as illustrated in FIG. 3) second arm portion10 will press down first arm 2 past the neutral position of coil spring4, whereupon coil spring 4 exerts a quickly increasing tensile force, sothat the clamp more or less immediately hits against its secondposition, killing the animal. Thus cap 6 forms, together with second armportion 10, a releasing mechanism.

FIG. 8 illustrates how container 12 may be extended in a directiontowards the animal with a portion 30, which can also be formed like anarrow slot. The animal is led by the bait in this portion or slot inthe direction of cap 6 and lifts same to get in touch with the baitunder the cap.

Referring again to FIG. 1, stop device 13 prevents the clamp frominadvertently turning such that second arm portion 10 of the releasingmechanism cannot act upon first arm 2 of the clamp in the intended way.It can be seen that stand 1 is designed with a platform 15 extendingrearward from container 12. In operation, an animal will stand with itsboth front legs on platform 15 in the desired killing position.

The outer part of second arm 3 may suitably be provided with a loophandle 21, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Loop handle 21 facilitateshandling and setting of the trap.

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a trap according to thepresent invention. Here, second arm portion 10 of releasing mechanism isprovided with a securing member 11, which locks first arm 2 of the clampwhen the claim is in its first loaded position. The object is to preventthe trap from releasing inadvertently, (e.g., by a thrust from the rearon the second arm 3 of the clamp). Securing member 11 releases first arm2 of the clamp when cap 3 is lifted by an animal.

In the trap illustrated in FIG. 2, the force line of coil spring 4 runsbelow first axis 5 in the first, loaded position. Thus, coil spring 4 inthe loaded position exerts a certain but minor turning moment on theclamp in the direction towards its second (sprung) position. Thisturning moment thus is counteracted upon by securing member 11.

In FIG. 3, there is shown in section guide 14 in the form of a funnel.The object of the latter is to guide animal 20 of a desired size tocontainer 12 and cap 6. In order to prevent animals from accessing thebait from the side, guide 14 is provided with two sidewalls 31, one ofwhich is indicated in FIG. 3. Guide 14 and sidewalls 31 are designed insuch a way that the clamp with its second arm 3 has a clear path down tothe head of animal 20 when the animal lifts the cap. It is importantthat guide 14 has a floor in connection with its walls so that animal 20cannot enter guide 14 and tilt the trap.

An alternative design of a guide is illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Herethe guide consists of a first funnel compartment 23, a transversevertically displaceable cross wall 25 and a second funnel compartment 24in direct connection to the trap. Cross wall 25 is provided with anopening 30 which may be adapted to animals of a desired maximum size.Cross wall 25, as illustrated in FIG. 4B may be removed from betweencompartments 23 and 24. Different sized cross walls 25 may be used toallow access by different sized animals.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate two embodiments of a shell into which thetrap of the present invention may be inserted and loaded. Shell 16 inFIG. 9, is designed, at the front side, with a first opening 17, adaptedto the desired maximum size of animals to be trapped. Shell 16 isprovided with inner grooves 26 for receiving the trap. The trap isinserted to a rear position where it is snapped fixed with a snap-in 22illustrated in FIG. 11. Shell 16 with snap-in 22 may be suitablymanufactured from plastic. Shell 16 is, in this embodiment, provided atthe upper side with a relatively small groove 18, wherein a string 19 orthe like can be led to load the trap.

FIG. 10 illustrates a second embodiment of a shell 27 provided with anopening 29 of a size that permits entry for the maximum size of ananimal to be trapped. Shell 27 is provided with a relatively broadgroove 28 for allowing the trap to be loaded by hand.

It will be readily seen by one of ordinary skill in the art that thepresent invention fulfills all of the objects set forth above. Afterreading the foregoing specification, one of ordinary skill will be ableto effect various changes, substitutions of equivalents and variousother aspects of the invention as broadly disclosed herein.

As may be appreciated by the above description, one distinction betweenthe first embodiment of the present invention and typical prior artmousetraps is that in the prior art, the releasing mechanism actuallyholds back the force of a spiral spring. Thus, to set the trap, twohands are needed, one to set the clamp, and another to set the releasingmechanism. If a user is not careful, the trap will spring (especiallywhen applying bait) and trap the user. In the first embodiment of thepresent invention, in contrast, the releasing mechanism does not holdback the force of the spring, but rather engages the clamp to push theclamp into a position where the spring can effect a torque on the clamp.

Thus, in the first and preferred embodiment of the present invention,the trap, when set, has little or no inherent torque or pressure beingexerted on the releasing mechanism. On the contrary, it is the releasingmechanism which pressures the clamp to force the clamp into a positionwhere the spring will act upon it.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the release mechanismdoes hold back spring pressure from the spring. However, due to thelever action of the pivoting clamp, the spring pressure may not be equalto the total force of the spring, but rather only a portion thereof.Thus, the triggering mechanism is not placed in as much stress and thushas less likelihood of being accidentally triggered while stillproviding certain triggering when an animal enters.

Certainty in triggering is achieved, in part, due to the nature of thetrigger mechanism. Prior art mousetraps relied upon the mouse or animalto move a trigger plate laterally. The trigger plate, held in tension bythe clamp arm, may not move, even if the bait were eaten. In the presentinvention, the bait cap is moved by the animal's head when it pokes ithead into the enclosure to snare the bait. Such a motion (poking a headinto a hole) is natural for an animal. Moreover, in the apparatus of thepresent invention, the bait cannot be taken without triggering the trap.

It is therefore intended that the protection granted hereon be limitedonly by the definition contained in the appended claims and equivalentsthereof.

I claim:
 1. A trap for trapping small animals, said trap comprising:astand; a pivoting clamp, journalled in the stand around a first axis,for rotatably moving between a first set position and a second releasedposition, said pivoting clamp having a first arm having an axissubstantially perpendicular to the first axis, and a second arm havingan axis turned from the axis of the first arm; a spring having one endcoupled to the stand and another end coupled to the second arm of thepivoting clamp such that a force exerted by the spring between the endsof the spring passes through a line running through or in the vicinityof said first axis so that the spring applies substantially no torque tothe pivoting clamp when the pivoting clamp is in the first set position;a releasing means, coupled to the stand, for selectively engaging thesecond arm of the pivoting clamp, such that when an animal acts upon thereleasing means, the releasing means moves the pivoting clamp to aposition where force exerted by the spring between the ends of thespring passes through a line running away from said first axis so thatthe spring applies a torque to the pivoting clamp so that the pivotingclamp substantially immediately swings to the second released secondposition where it hits the animal, wherein said releasing means furthercomprises:a bait holding means for holding bait; and a pivoting baitcover, substantially covering the bait holding means and having an armportion for selectively engaging the second arm of the pivoting clamp,such that when the pivoting bait cover is moved, the arm portion movesthe pivoting clamp to a position where force exerted by the springbetween the ends of the spring passes through a line running away fromsaid first axis so that the spring applies a torque to the pivotingclamp so that the pivoting clamp substantially immediately swings to thesecond released second position where it hits the animal.
 2. A trapaccording to claim 1, further comprising a stop device for preventingthe pivoting clamp from rotating when the pivoting clamp is in the firstset position.
 3. A trap according to claim 2, further comprising a guidemeans, coupled to the stand, for guiding small animals to the bait butpreventing larger animals from acting upon the releasing means.
 4. Atrap according to claim 3, wherein the stand further includes a platformportion, extending backwards from the bait holding means, for supportingthe animal and preventing the animal from tipping the trap over.
 5. Atrap according to claim 4, wherein the bait holding means and thepivoting bait cover selectively engage so as to form an opening to allowthe animal to see and smell the bait, such that when the animal placesits head in the opening, the pivoting bait cover pivots, triggering thetrap.
 6. A trap according to claim 5, further comprising:an outer shellinto which the trap may be inserted to a protected position, which shellis provided with a first opening, with such a size, and located in sucha way that it admits animals of a desired, maximum size access to thereleasing device, and that the shell is provided with an elongatedsecond opening arranged in such a way that a string or the like may beled in through the second opening and releasably stretch the pivotingclamp to the first set position.
 7. A mousetrap, comprising:a base; amovable arm pivoting along a first axis parallel to the base, themovable arm having a first set position when the mousetrap is set, and asecond released position when the mousetrap is triggered, the movablearm having a first portion perpendicular to the first axis for engagingand trapping an animal, and a second portion perpendicular to the firstaxis; a spring connected to the base and the movable arm such that whenthe mousetrap is set, the spring is in tension with a force passingthrough the first axis so as to exert substantially no torque to themovable arm; and a trigger, pivotably coupled to the base andselectively engageable with the movable arm, for moving the movable armfrom a position where the spring is in tension with a force passingthrough the first axis such that the spring exerts a torque on themovable arm moving the movable arm to the second released position,wherein said trigger comprises:a bait holder for holding a bait; and abait holder cover, pivotably coupled to the base and substantiallycovering the bait, the bait cover moving the movable arm when moved,wherein the bait holder and the bait holder cover selectively engage soas to form an opening to allow the animal to see and smell the bait,such that when the animal places its head in the opening, the baitholder cover pivots, triggering the trap.
 8. The mousetrap of claim 7,further comprising:a cover, coupled to said base, for limiting access tothe bait holder by an animal to one direction, said cover having anopening sized to prevent access by animals larger than a predeterminedsize.
 9. A mousetrap, comprising:a base; a movable arm pivoting along afirst axis parallel to the base, the movable arm having a first setposition when the mousetrap is set, and a second released position whenthe mousetrap is triggered, the movable arm having a first portionperpendicular to the first axis for engaging and trapping an animal, anda second portion perpendicular to the first axis; a spring connected tothe base and the movable arm such that when the mousetrap is set, thespring is in tension with a force passing adjacent the first axis so asto exert a torque to the movable arm; and a trigger, pivotably coupledto the base and selectively engageable with the movable arm, for holdingthe movable arm from movement when the trigger is set and for releasingthe movable arm from the first set position such that the spring exertsa torque on the movable arm moving the movable arm to the secondreleased position wherein said trigger comprises:a bait holder forholding a bait; and a bait holder cover, pivotably coupled to the baseand substantially covering the bait, the bait cover moving the movablearm when moved, wherein the bait holder and the bait holder coverselectively engage so as to form an opening to allow the animal to seeand smell the bait, such that when the animal places its head in theopening, the bait holder cover pivots, triggering the trap.
 10. Themousetrap of claim 9, further comprising:a cover, coupled to said base,for limiting access to the bait holder by an animal to one direction,said cover having an opening sized to prevent access by animals largerthan a predetermined size.